As I'm getting unrestricted, I walk furiously to this woman. I've never experienced such an eerie emotion: my sanity would like to rationalize and try to trust Alec, but my intuitions whine for danger. Feels like I'm falling into a world I can't control.

After a few steps, Eli strives to stop me from going further. I feel his hand on my arm, but I just cast him off.

"Liv, you have to stop, now!" Eli screams at me and gives me Alpha orders: he is my little brother, my wolf strength in this world. But right now, for the first time in my life, I'm not too fond of his attitude. If I want to be absolutely honest, I loathe it, it outrages me. I turn mad as he dares to use his Alpha's powers on me. I stop, turn over and look at him.

"Who do you think you are to give orders, Eli? I'm your sister - what is more, you're older sister. Not one of your wolves you can threaten with your All-mighty Alpha tone." I sound authoritative, almost menacing. He is no more my Alpha - I have no Alpha, no Prince, no King. Right now, I feel like no one has the right to instruct me on how to act. I come closer to him, and I tiptoe so my mouth gets closer to his ear.

"Don't ever use it on me again, Elijah," I whisper in his ear, my breath heavy as my current angst fights the benevolence that is usually mine.

I could swear that I see some wolves bow down as this emotional storm rages in my fragile human silhouette.

I know I shouldn't be that angry. My adoring brother tries to protect me. This wildness could have me slaughtered by a challenging female lycan who was probably trained to kill. But right now, I could shoot him dead if my eyes were guns.

"Let go, Eli. Lycan's bond can be complicated. And she's mated to a Prince. She is not lucid right now. Let Alec deal with her. She will listen to her mate; at least, I hope." Jackson puts his hand on Eli's shoulder: Eli steps back.

Perfect, I can go back to Alec and this woman. As soon as my eyes lock on her, I can't focus on anything but her neck, still so accessible. Despite my lack of fangs, I am ready to rip her head off her body: I reread in newspapers some mentally disturbed men attacked others, biting them. But, as I'm definitely turning nuts, I suppose I can do so.

You're protecting what's yours: this is your privilege.

For once since I met Alec, I agree with my new pervert and now murderous mind, down in my soul.

I'm just waiting for her slightest move. I can see she comes one step forward, her hand approaching Alec's torso.

"Darling, who is she?" She dares to ask Alec who I am, with her superior annoyed - and annoying- tone. That's too much for me. She needs to get back to her place and learn not to disrespect wolves in others' packs. You don't act shit with an Alpha's daughter, whether I'm a wolf, a human, or a rabbit. She needs to learn about this pack's rules - my rules.

I am gonna show you who I am.

My right fist is ready to punch her; my left hand is ready to catch her neck. My jaws are prepared to rip her throat as a wave of stamina rushes in my veins. My human heart seems to turn into some indomitable creature, greedy with retaliation.

I am just inches from her when I can see that Alec pushes her away, preventing me from reaching my first-time enemy. But, more than that, he stands on my path, ready to stop me if I attempt any move towards her.

What are you doing? Why do you protect her?

I feel like my whole being snarls. It physically can't, but that's what my guts, twisting like to escape my insides, make me experience. Everything is clouded, but the two of them: Alex just turned himself into my new source of anger. How in the world can he side with someone else than his mate? I'm caught in a bad dream while awake.

I can sense that people around are ready to intervene. Alec raises his hand to stop them, making me feel insignificant when facing him.

"You have to stop, Liv. I want to protect you, not her. You will feel bad if you hurt her; I can't let you do that. Let it go, Liv. She represents nothing anymore". Alec talks slowly but authoritatively. But it doesn't calm me down. At all.

He said, "anymore." It means she was. Why is she here, then?

My mind is getting desperate. My heart screams in pain and resentment. My body is getting more jealous as I understand that she is the owner of the baby doll.

I stretch out my arm to put him out of my way: how dare he bring her here?

Despite the strength of my intention, he just halts it with one hand. His other hand catches my chin, and he tries to swivel my head, so I look at him, but I repel his hand in vain.

"Liv, honey, you need to focus on me. Listen to me. I'm here. Little wolf". His voice is still calm and loving, trying to soften me, appease this eagerness for fighting in me. But I can't do what he is asking me. I'm heartbroken that the love of his last decades is in my house.

My eyes are directed on this woman: I wish I could just make her disappear.

"Alec, what does this…." She looks at Alec, shocked.

"Not now, Amber!" There is nothing but authority in Alec's voice, without an ounce of love or affection. She looks at me, and her surprised look turns into wrath. Her canines grow, her nails turning into claws. She is ready to fight, prepared to shift at any moment. But I have to think and process Alec's attitude: he is thoughtful with me. But maybe he is just playing clever.

Jackson stands at her side: I didn't see him coming. Why is he by her side? Traitor. I trusted him. Them. His blue eyes are begging me to stop. I feel he is ready to intervene to stop one of us. Could he hurt me after acting so lovely during our few talks?

Alec tightens his grip, and I can feel blood running on my neck and bust. I turn my head to him as pain brings back my reason to a more lucid state.

"I'm here, Liv. Just calm down. I don't want to hurt you more." Alec's voice is more powerful, more dominant.

"Please, Liv. I love you. Don't force me to do more." His eyes are imploring for me to get reasonable in the most caring way despite his evident authority. All my wild anger seems to fade away.

Suddenly, I feel the sparks and the warmth as he embraces me. My body already starts to relax as the jealousy inside stops pacing to gently curl and muffle.

My breath is getting back to normal as his hand lets go of my arm and starts to brush my hair. He kisses my forehead, and everything seems so serene around me. There's just Alec and me. Everybody else seems to vanish. My mind drifts back to my clearing fantasy, except for this time, the black wolf and the silver wolf are sleeping one against the other under the tree.

I hear Jackson's voice, and it brings me back to reality. "Shut the fuck up, Amber." His voice is almost as authoritative as Alec's, and he sounds … hostile.

Alec takes both sides of my head and kisses me deeply.

"I'm all yours, Liv. I love you, little wolf. That's all fine." He smiles at me, and my eyes fill with tears. My whole body seems to be exhausted as the last drop of jealousy leaves my body. Alec's hands get down to grab my waist and support my back.

"You love me?" I murmur these three words as the tears keep on rolling down my face. My legs turn to jelly, and if not for him to hold me, I would fall on the ground.

"Of course, I do, little wolf."

He takes me in his arms, and my head rests in the crook of his neck. We stay like that for a few minutes: my tears stop falling, and everything is so calm, his blooming flower scent covering me with love, peace, and clarity. People just stay quiet and don't move a finger. Alec kisses my forehead and rubs my back as he holds me bridal style.

"I have to deal with her, and I'll go back to you. Elijah is going to take you, so you don't hurt yourself, okay?" I nod. I feel emptied of all my energy. I think Elijah is taking me in his arms as I recognize the warmth of our brotherhood bond. I wish I could tell him I am sorry, but I am nothing but tired and already missing Alec's contact right now.

It's okay, sis'. I am here. We'll talk later, don't worry.

Eli's voice makes me relax: he's going to protect me. He's not my mate, but he's been my other half for my whole life before Alec's pretty face entered this packhouse. My twin's embrace is the second better on earth.

I notice Jackson holds Amber just above her clenched fist. I put my head on Eli's shoulder and close my eyes. I don't want to look at her, I don't want to get insane again, and I am sure her probably hateful face will take away my newfound clarity.

He walks away, climbing the stairs to go straight to his office. I can feel my parents' presence as we walk away.

He puts me down on the couch in his office. I feel he puts some blanket on me as I curl up. Even if I'm only half-conscious, I know that Julie, Kate, and Caleb are here in the room with us.

"That's mate-bond, sweetie, that's okay." My mum is behind the couch's backrest and passes her hand in my hair to calm me down, just like she used to do when I was a child and got nightmares.

Kate lifts my head and sits on the couch. My head rests on her lap, and she caresses my back.

"You rocked, girl. But you are kind of scary when you get mad."

She tries to sound funny to lighten the atmosphere: I hear nervous laughs, but nervousness infiltrates the room.

I feel a wet towel on my chin: Julie is cleaning it as it is covered with my own blood. She gets to my neck and chest to clean them too.

"Thank you. All of you". I murmur these words. I feel blessed to have them right now. Everything seems less scary as I don't comprehend what is happening to me.

Someone knocks, and Elijah and my father open the door and obstruct it so I can't run out. Anyway, I feel more than exhausted: I could not run even if I wanted to.

I close my eyes and listen to Jackson's voice. I can hear him even if he is whispering.

"He went to talk to her. That does not go very well. But he won't let her mess with Liv. He just wants you to take care of her until he gets back." He seems far more relaxed than before.

"Of course," my father says—his voice trembles.

"Have you ever seen something like that?

"Mate-bond is really strong for lycans. Lucky she can't shift, so we didn't have to face a mad wolf under Lycan's mate-bond. Your daughter is something." He stops for a moment. I can feel Eli is interrogative and scared at the same time. It must appear on his face as Jackson speaks again.

"We've never really seen something like this. Humans who mate with lycans are just legends, as far as we know. He will call his parents, see if someone has any idea about… this situation. Meanwhile, Alec will help her control her emotions as much as possible, so she does not put herself in danger. Her emotions make her lose clarity. That would be easier if she had a wolf who could let out frustration, but Alec is powerful and wise. He won't let her down. She is his life now"." Jackson's voice is calm and comforting.

I feel Eli and my dad are less uncomfortable. As soon as they calm down, everybody else relaxes. Me included.

I'm gonna be okay. Alec is going to be here to help me. It's going to be okay. No matter if I am a freaky weirdo human: he said he would help me.

I close my eyes and fall asleep, darkness surrounding me.